Water requirements of young coconut palms in a humid tropical climate

Summary The evapotranspiration rates of five-year-old coconut palms (Cocos nucifera Linn. cv West Coast Tall) grown in an Oxisol on the West coast of India were quantified from soil moisture depletion studies and lysimetric measurements. The rates increased from 2.9 mm day^–1 in December to 5.5 mm day^–1 in April and reduced to 2.3 mm day^–1 in June following the onset of monsoon rain. Ratios of evatranspiration to class A pan evaporation were 0.87–0.88 in the moderate rainfall period (September and October), 0.78–0.85 in the winter period (November–February), 0.87–0.96 in the summer period (March–May) and 0.60–0.68 in the rainy period (June–August).